ELECTRONIC PROTECTION AGAINST CIRCUIT REVERSAL

• US 20170094732A1
• Filed: 09/29/2016
• Published: 03/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energizer Brands, LLC (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Energizer Brands, LLC (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zhang, Zi hong, Spartano, David, Brandon, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,206,263 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0034 using reverse polarity correcting or protecting circuits mechanical means of polarity protection H02J7/0045
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/50 responsive to malfunctions or undesirable behaviour of LEDs; responsive to LED life; Protective circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

A device having an active reversal protection system is described. The system includes a pair of MOSFETs connected to parallel battery power sources. When the batteries in one of the power sources are improperly installed, the voltage delivered by that power source closes the gate of its associated MOSFET. In normal operation, the MOSFETs are connected to a microprocessor configured to operate the device. In a preferred embodiment, the device is a lighting device incorporating a light emitting diode that is driven by the MOSFETs.

Claims

1. An apparatus having active reversal protection comprising:

a first battery power source;

a second battery power source;

a microprocessor;

a consumer device;

a first MOSFET operatively associated with the first battery power source, the microprocessor and the consumer device;

a second MOSFET operatively associated with the second battery power source, the microprocessor and the consumer device;

wherein the first and second battery power sources are connected in parallel to the microprocessor; and

wherein, when the first battery power source delivers voltage outside of a specified voltage range, the first MOSFET prevents electrical communication with the first power source while the second power source and the second MOSFET, by way of the microprocessor, continue to operate the consumer device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the microprocessor provides an alert signal indicating improper installation of batteries in the first battery power source.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the alert signal is a visual or audio alteration in an output normally delivered by the consumer device.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the consumer device is a lighting device.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the lighting device comprises a light emitting diode.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the alert signal comprises a visual alteration of light output by the light emitting diode.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first battery power source comprises a plurality of batteries provided in series.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first battery power source comprises a plurality of batteries provided in series.

9. An apparatus having active reversal protection comprising:

a first battery power source;

a second battery power source;

a microprocessor;

a consumer device;

a first MOSFET operatively associated with the first battery power source, the microprocessor and the consumer device;

a second MOSFET operatively associated with the second battery power source, the microprocessor and the consumer device;

wherein the first and second MOSFET are connected in parallel to the microprocessor; and

wherein, when the consumer device demands a load outside of a specified load range, the first and second MOSFETs prevents electrical communication with the first and second power sources while allowing the microprocessor to provide an alert signal as to an overload condition.

10. A lighting device including active reversal protection comprising:

a first battery power source comprising at least one consumer-replaceable battery;

a second battery power source comprising at least one consumer-replaceable battery;

a microprocessor;

at least one light emitting diode;

a first MOSFET operatively associated with the first battery power source, the microprocessor and the light emitting diode;

a second MOSFET operatively associated with the second battery power source, the microprocessor and the light emitting diode;

wherein the first and second battery power sources are connected in parallel to the light emitting diode; and

wherein, when the first battery power source delivers voltage outside of a specified voltage range, the first MOSFET prevents electrical communication with the first power source while the second power source and the second MOSFET continue to operate the consumer device.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the alert signal comprises a visual alteration of light output by the light emitting diode.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first battery power source comprises a plurality of batteries provided in series.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first battery power source comprises a plurality of batteries provided in series.